Insulin-like peptides are not involved in maturation or functional recovery of neural circuits in the locust flight system.

We sought to manipulate maturation and functional recovery of locust flight circuitry by treating locusts with pharmacological doses of bovine anti-insulin and insulin. Anti-insulin treatment of maturing locusts caused reduced growth of the thoracic nervous system, lower body weight, and softer cuticles compared with control locusts. We were unable to block either maturation or recovery of flight circuitry with anti-insulin. We propose that insulin-related peptides are involved in growth and cuticular changes during adult maturation, but have no role in promoting neuronal sprouting during this period or as a result of injury.